Dunedin Railway Station

‘A jewel in the country’s architectural crown’ 

The epitome of Dunedin’s overwhelming architectural oeuvre, the Railway Station is adored by visitors to the city and its contemporary utility cannot be expressed enough by locals.  

Designed by George Troup in the late 19th century, the Railway Building affectionately secured him the pseudonym of “Gingerbread George”. Comprising two platforms (the main one being New Zealand’s longest at 1 kilometre) and formed with dark basalt rock from Strath-Taieri the Railway Station exudes Flemish elegance. Oamaru stone and pink granite puts the finishing touches on the buildings eye-candy exterior. A mosaic floor of almost 750,000 tiles glorifies the booking hall, while a clock tower accentuates the overall functionality of the structure.  

It was formally opened in 1904 by the Minister of Railways come Prime Minister Joseph Ward, and was in its glory days the nations busiest seeing up to 100 train arrivals and departures daily.   

Now it is home to the Taieri Gorge Railway, which is a tourist attraction in itself and its popularity signalling the Railway Stations still valid operational status. An Arts Centre, Museum, and Restaurant/Café are also permanent fixtures in the Station’s modern context.  

It also anchors the bustling and celebrated Farmer’s Market held each Saturday from 8am-12pm and an annual fashion show attended by hundreds, with the platform providing a lengthy catwalk for models to tackle  - adjudged the world’s longest.  

Do not pass up an opportunity to discover the sumptuous Railway Station – a Category I Historic Place. Time your visit to the site with an event such as the Otago’s Farmers Market to acquire a sense of the rousing and exciting train station atmosphere from days gone by.  

Dunedin Railway Station, Anzac Avenue, Dunedin